INSPIRE Sports Academy is once again open for Gilas Pilipinas as the national team begins its month-long camp in preparation for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers’ final window, Sunday.
In an Instagram story by assistant coach Andrei Tolentino, he and cadets Isaac Go, Calvin Oftana, and Kemark Carino were the first to arrive at the state-of-the-art facility in Calamba, Laguna.
Video from coach @drei_tolentino
Also arriving today are Javi Gomez de Liaño, the Nieto twins, Dave Ildefonso, Justine Baltazar, and Rey Suerte.
Jaydee Tungcab will not take part in this window as he is still waiting for his Japanese visa. Allyn Bulanadi is also out, since he will undergo surgery on the right shoulder injury he sustained back in October.
The staff expect Dwight Ramos to arrive later this week from California.
Juan Gomez de Liaño, on the other hand, will enter the bubble later this week due to a dental procedure.
The first batch of PBA players that will reinforce the pool is also expected to arrive today, headlined by Gilas skipper Kiefer Ravena.
Video from @kieferravena15
Of course, Gilas program director Tab Baldwin and interim head coach Jong Uichico will also enter the bubble, together with assistant coaches Norman Black, Caloy Garcia, and Sandy Arespacochaga.
The invited PBA players will arrive depending on their schedule. The inflow of players will have a deadline.
The players and staff will have to enter room quarantine first as they await the result of the RT-PCR tests.
Besides the men’s national basketball team, also holding a camp in Inspire are the boxing team (arriving on January 15), taekwondo (16), and karate (17).
Gilas take on South Korea on February 18, Indonesia on the 20th, and Korea again on the 22nd in Clark.
The Philippines leads Pool A with a 3-0 record.
